LUBBOCK, Texas (January 17, 2015) – Four Lady Chaparrals scored at least 14 points, including a team-leading 17 points from Tess Bruffey, a double-double from Haley Burton (14-points, 12-assists) and a career-high 15 points from Blair Taylor, and the balanced production helped Lubbock Christian University to a 75-63 Heartland Conference win over University of Arkansas Fort Smith to move atop the conference standings Saturday afternoon at Rip Griffin Center.

The opening five minutes featured five lead changes, but then LCU went on a scoring roll. They went on a 9-0 run to turn a 6-5 deficit into a 14-6 lead under seven minutes into the game. A series of free throws by UAFS's Skai Thompson ended the run and pulled the Lady Lions within four (14-10), but a pair of lay-ups by Taylor highlighted a 6-0 run and LCU led 20-10 with 10:52 remaining in the half. Taylor and Burton went on to connect on three-pointers inside seven minutes remaining in the half and a 12-1 LCU run had LCU leading 38-18 with six minutes left before the break. LCU held UAFS to a 28.1% (9/32) shooting mark in the opening half and led 45-30 at halftime.

UAFS rallied back in the second half. They opened the half on a 15-4 run, with Sydney Franklin scoring seven of the points off a trio of field goals to cut LCU's lead to 49-44 five minutes into the half. Bailey Haist ended the run for LCU with one of the team's six three-pointers in the second half (Haist had three in the half). The Lady Lions hung around and trailed 62-54 (11:17 remaining) until Haist connected on another long range shot, which sparked a 9-0 LCU run to push their lead to 71-54 with 6:43 remaining.

LCU out-rebounded UAFS 28-18 in the first half, but were out-rebounded 29-16 in the second half.  LCU's streak of six consecutive games out-rebounding their opposition ended, as UAFS had a 47-44 edge in rebounding. The Lady Chaps also outscored UAFS 22-10 in the paint during the first half before being outscored 22-8 in the paint for the second half (UAFS led the total 32-30).

The Lady Lions finished the game 33.3% (23/69) from the field. They had a miserable time at the charity stripe, as were only successful on 12 of 23 opportunities (52.2%). The mark was ironically the lowest by an LCU opponent since Dec. 6, 2013 when UAFS was 51.5% against the Lady Chaps from the line. UAFS did receive success from Franklin, Angi Ramey, Thompson and Lubbock native Jasmine Brainard. Franklin shared a game-high and produced a season best 17 points, with Brainard adding 16 points and Thompson contributing 11 points. Ramey recorded a game high 17 rebounds.

Lubbock Christian assisted on 20 of their 25 field goals, with Burton producing a career-high 12 assists as part of her third career double-double. Bruffey led LCU with 17 points and they also received 15 points from Haist and Taylor each. Haist tied a career mark for three-pointers for a fourth time this season with four three-point field goals. Schneider led LCU with 16 rebounds. Five different Lady Chaps went perfect from the line and the team was 84.2% (16/19) from the free-throw line.

The win was LCU's 20th consecutive conference home win. LCU improved to 11-5 overall with their third consecutive win and they are atop the conference standings with a 5-1 record. Helping them move into first place was St. Mary's University (Texas) defeating St. Edward's to give St. Edward's and UAFS a 5-2 conference record. UAFS had their four-game win streak snapped and they are 7-7 overall. The Lady Chaparrals begin their longest road trip of the season (three-game road trip) Monday in Goodwell, Okla. facing Oklahoma Panhandle State University at 5:30 p.m. in a game originally scheduled for Jan. 3.